Fiber optic bundle matching connector
OwnerRobert J. Fausinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fiber optic cable coupler comprises a housing adapted to receive a first fiber optic cable and a cable connector having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the cable connector is adapted to engage the housing and the proximal end of the cable connector is adapted to receive a second fiber optic cable. The first and second fiber optic cables each have an exposed end. The cable connector retains the second fiber optic cable so that the second fiber optic cable exposed end is opposed to and in longitudinal alignment with the first fiber optic cable exposed end. The cable connector is also adapted to maintain a user selectable distance between the first fiber optic cable exposed end and the second fiber optic cable exposed end.
Claims39
A fiber optic cable coupler, comprising:
- a housing adapted to receive a first fiber optic cable, the first fiber optic cable having an exposed end;
- a cable connector having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end adapted to engage the housing, the proximal end adapted to receive a second fiber optic cable, the second fiber optic cable having an exposed end;
- wherein the cable connector retains the second fiber optic cable so that the second fiber optic cable exposed end is opposed to and in longitudinal alignment with the first fiber optic cable exposed end;
- and
- wherein the cable connector is adapted to maintain a user selectable distance between the first fiber optic cable exposed end and the second fiber optic cable exposed end.
A device for transmitting light energy from an exposed end of a first fiber optic cable bundle to an exposed end of a second fiber optic cable bundle, comprising:
- a first housing adapted to retain the first fiber optic cable bundle, the first housing having a longitudinal axis and a passage extending along the longitudinal axis;
- a second housing adapted to engage the first housing and retain the second fiber optic cable bundle, the second housing adapted to maintain a user selected distance between the first and second fiber optic cable bundle exposed ends.
A fiber optic cable coupler, comprising:
- means for retaining a first fiber optic cable bundle;
- means for retaining a second fiber optic cable bundle;
- means for longitudinally aligning the first and second fiber optic cable bundles;
- and
- means for adjusting the distance between the first and second fiber optic cables.
A method of coupling fiber optic cables having different diameters, comprising:
- retaining a first fiber optic cable in a first position, the first fiber optic cable having an exposed end;
- retaining a second fiber optic cable in a second position, the second fiber optic cable having an exposed end,
- longitudinally aligning the first and second fiber optic cable exposed ends;
- and
- adjusting the distance between the first and second fiber optic cable exposed ends so that light energy emitted by the first fiber optic cable exposed end evenly illuminates the second fiber optic cable exposed end.
A spectrophotometer system, comprising:
- a spectrum analyzer;
- a first fiber optic cable bundle having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end coupled to the spectrum analyzer, the proximal end coupled to a fiber optic cable matching connector;
- and
- a fiber optic sampling cable having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end coupled to the fiber optic cable matching connector, the proximal end coupled to a sampling tip;
- wherein the fiber optic cable matching connector comprises
- a first housing adapted to retain the proximal end of the first fiber optic cable bundle, the first housing having a longitudinal axis and a passage extending along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a second housing adapted to engage the distal end of the fiber optic sampling cable, the second housing adapted to maintain a user selected distance between the first and second fiber optic cable bundle exposed ends.
A method for optically coupling a first fiber optic element having a first optical aperture to a second fiber optic element having a second optical aperture, the method comprising:
- aligning a light emitting end of the first fiber optic element with a light receiving end of the second fiber optic element, and
- fixedly positioning the light emitting end of the first fiber optic element and the light receiving end of the second fiber optic element a predetermined distance apart such that light emitted by the first fiber optic element may illuminate substantially all of the light receiving end of the second fiber optic element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.